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Firefox update messed up text boxes on every website I access; need to fix this.

  • 24 replies
  • 16 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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I was happy with the old version of Firefox I was using, but I wanted to install an addon that required a later version, so I "upgraded". Prior to the upgrade I has white text on a black background set as my default. After the upgrade those settings were maintained, *except* in most web text-input boxes (such as the text-box on teh Google main screen). These boxes either became reverse colored (e.g. black text on white background), or even worse, bleck text on black background, so the text is invisible. (This happens on secondary Google search pages.) Very annoying and not very useful.

Also, buttons like the Google search and "I'm feeling lucky" buttons are showing up blank, as does the "submit" button on THIS page. And on some sites "captcha" boxes are invisible, making it impossible to register or login at those sites.

How do I fix this?

I've seen a number of suggested fixed for similar problems, ranging from editing the userChrome.css file to using "Stylish" to install overlays. None of these fix the problem. They either don't work at all, or they are overkill, changing a whole bunck of -other- things that I -don't- want changed. Also, they all seem overly complex for a problem that SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. An upgrade that trashes my installed settings isn't an "upgrade", it;s a downgrade.

edited by a moderator

I was happy with the old version of Firefox I was using, but I wanted to install an addon that required a later version, so I "upgraded". Prior to the upgrade I has white text on a black background set as my default. After the upgrade those settings were maintained, *except* in most web text-input boxes (such as the text-box on teh Google main screen). These boxes either became reverse colored (e.g. black text on white background), or even worse, bleck text on black background, so the text is invisible. (This happens on secondary Google search pages.) Very annoying and not very useful. Also, buttons like the Google search and "I'm feeling lucky" buttons are showing up blank, as does the "submit" button on THIS page. And on some sites "captcha" boxes are invisible, making it impossible to register or login at those sites. How do I fix this? I've seen a number of suggested fixed for similar problems, ranging from editing the userChrome.css file to using "Stylish" to install overlays. None of these fix the problem. They either don't work at all, or they are overkill, changing a whole bunck of -other- things that I -don't- want changed. Also, they all seem overly complex for a problem that SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. An upgrade that trashes my installed settings isn't an "upgrade", it;s a downgrade. ''edited by a moderator''

Modified by the-edmeister

All Replies (4)

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> FALSE, google chrome almost never had this option its self.

Say what??

First off, I'm not using Google Chrome; none of these sites support it.

Secondly, how would YOU know what the government sites I access require?

Every version of FireFox I've looked at, except for v.23 which I just tried, had a checkbox to turn JS and J on or off, under Tools/Oprions/Content.


Anyway, thanks to everyone for your input.

What I ended up doing on the work system was reverting to FF 2, and I found older versions of the plugins I wanted that work with that version. If and wnebt the gov lets me I may move up the chain of FF versions, but for now, I know this one works, so, there I am.

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I have FF24, don't remember there being an update, but couldn't tell you for sure if this is bec of an update or not. I tend to just go with what's recommended since I'm not a IT person. I use the default theme, have a few add-ons/extensions, nothing involved. About a month ago, I fire everything up and all the FF stuff on top of the browser if fine, but EVERYTHING in the browser window is bizarre. Links are invisible, nearly no images or graphics, strange empty boxes all over the place and I CANNOT function. I resorted to using chrome to get through this thinking it must have been some sort of update that would again get updated and fix itself but that's obviously not happening. I really don't want to switch, I have become very comfortable with how things run in FF but I won't be able to like it is.

I read through the above and although the problem sounds very similar I haven't gone through the laundry list of suggestions because I am not *that* person that tinkers with the code. Please someone give me a quick fix.

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Hi whichendisup, does this problem affect particular sites, or all sites?

For example, many Yahoo mail users have recently reported icons appearing as rectangle with two rows of two characters. This is a problem with the custom font not being downloaded and applied.

If you run Windows, one possible cause of display issues is using a "high contrast" theme. What is your OS and version?


More generally, when you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.

(1) Bypass Firefox's Cache

Use Ctrl+Shift+r (Mac: Command+Shift+r) to reload the page fresh from the server.

Alternately, you also can clear Firefox's cache completely using:

(WIN) orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced
(MAC) Firefox menu > Preferences > Advanced

On the Network mini-tab > Cached Web Content : "Clear Now"

If you have a large hard drive, this might take a few minutes.

(2) Remove the site's cookies (save any pending work first). While viewing a page on the site, try either:

  • right-click and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
  • Tools menu > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"

In the dialog that opens, you can remove the site's cookies individually.

Then try reloading the page. Does that help?

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Hi whichendisup

Can you attach a screenshot?

Use a compressed image type like PNG or JPG to save the screenshot.

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